Recognize the Important Sacrifices of Our Heroes this Memorial Day

With the excitement of a long weekend, the hope of good weather and gatherings with family and friends, it can be easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Memorial Day. This year, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect and recognize those who have sacrificed so much to secure our freedom.

Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1866, in Waterloo, New York. Loved ones and community members gathered to celebrate and honor the sacrifices so many have made to protect our nation. Today, Memorial Day remains much the same. The community comes together in the spirit of commemoration, holding events and taking the time to show gratitude to those who put their lives on the line to defend this great country.

Many of those who we will celebrate this year are still hard at work, risking their lives to ensure our safety. As of April, 33,500 American troops remain stationed in Afghanistan. Sadly, we have lost more than 2,000 soldiers who served there. This reality reminds us that we should be doing everything we can to ensure that veterans and their families continue to get the support they need. The bravery shown by our servicemen and servicewomen is remarkable. Each one deserves our utmost gratitude and respect.

NYS Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara pays tribute to our fallen heroes during the Memorial Day Service at St Adalbert’s Cemetery in Rotterdam

This Memorial Day, let’s give these men and women the recognition they truly deserve. By honoring and preserving the memory of those who have been lost in action and continuing to support our troops and their families, while at home and abroad, we can properly thank those who have sacrificed so much for all of us.

Memorial Day gives us the opportunity to recognize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation. This week, I joined fellow veterans from our community to pay tribute to our fallen heroes by participating in a Memorial Day service with the Schenectady Polish-American Veterans (PAV) at St Adalbert’s Cemetery in my hometown of Rotterdam. On May 22nd, I’ll also be walking in the annual Memorial Day parade at 6:30 p.m in Rotterdam. In the City of Amsterdam, I’ll be joining American Legion Post 701 in placing flags at the graves of veterans at St. Mary’s Cemetery at 9 a.m. on May 23rd. I will also be participating in the Town of Florida’s Memorial Day ceremony at 7 p.m. on May 25th.

On Memorial Day, May 26th, I’ll be in the Village of Fonda to walk in a Memorial Day parade and participating in a Memorial Day service at Veterans’ Park in the City of Schenectady at 11 a.m. I’ll also be attending other ceremonies during the day and I encourage you to participate at one of these or any one of the many other events taking place in our communities.

As always, if you have any question or concerns about this or any other community issue, please contact my office at (518) 455-5197 or by email at santabarbaraa@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter name @AsmSantabarbara. As a veteran of the US Army Reserve, Commander of the AMVETS Post 35 in Rotterdam and a member of the New York State Assembly’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I am committed to supporting our troops, their families and our returning heroes.